In Recent News...

I landed an internship with the Neighborhood Parks Council in San Francisco! I start January 17th of the new year. What a way to begin 2011...move from Sacramento, either to Petaluma for a short while to save up, or depending on money situations straight to the city. I'll be focusing on the outreach and communications side of NPC, so those of you who live in SF will be seeing me lurking around your parks soon!

P.s. I will be receiving my camera back from the manufacturer tomorrow so I will be able to take more pictures for this little written adventure.

Smells of the Season Changing

There are quite a few markers of the shift in time as the seasons arrive. My favorite part of this season in particular is the smell. Or I should say smells.

When the piles of leaves that surround each yard become piled up, and rain comes to melt the foliage together, there is an earthy aroma that fills my nose. The rain in itself has different scents depending on how cold it is or if it is windy. Adding the rotting leaves makes it a more full bodied stench.

Then there is the drifting of chimney smoke. It is rare nowadays, seemingly only for special occasions or for when you are not expecting it to hit you as you walk by your neighbor's house in the evening. It always makes me rush home so I can compete with their comfy levels.

There are the mornings when I wake up and can literally smell the cold lingering around my bedside, right beyond my fortress of warmth beneath the covers. Waiting. Ready to pounce. Just my nose poking out until I find the courage to venture further.

Slacker

So apparently I have neglected my blog to a point of despair. Redo?





I went on an amazing wine tasting tour in Amador County yesterday with a group of Magpie co-workers.
Highlights: Gorgeous and bright seventy-degree weather, sipping a glass of chilled white wine while walking between the paths of vines, and the competitive game of Bocce ball after lunch. (FOH lost BOO)

The First Frittata

Slowly crawling back from a week-long cold, I know that this week will be crazy! I spent quarantine in bed watching loads of movies and not eating much other than ramen noodles. Don't get me wrong, ramen is delicious with proper added spices and tons of garlic and a fried egg on top, but I am ready to chew something--Anything!

OK, not everything. But I do want to save money for my trip to NYC at the end of the month (more details later) therefore I want to make meals that will stand in for bought lunches or snacks in the upcoming weeks.

Granny graciously bought a fridge full, well, my 1/3 of the fridge, of food for me earlier this weekend. Andy came over and kept me company in my confinement and laughed when I said I had a ton of food but nothing to eat. He was right in laughing, since I had everything I could think of at my disposal to cook a stellar snack, but I was at a loss for what I wanted to nibble.

Fast forward to tonight, when I had the bright idea to cook my very first frittata. This versatile egg dish is amazing, for it is filling, cheap to make, and is done in about 20 minutes. My frittata has potato lining the edge of the pan, chives, loads of onions and ham. On top, I grated fresh Parmesan and stuck it in the broiler for a moment. I might cut up some avocado to put on top for lunch tomorrow!

Harlem at the Hub

After work last night, I ventured out to the Hub (shhh it's a secret) and arrived just in time to see Harlem perform. With a new album out, unreleased unless you look for it on Youtube, I was interested in how my top-ranking party dance band were progressing musically.

Three points I feel need to be mentioned at this point:

1. As a band, performing for a paying audience, get it together. I understand you have been on tour for three weeks before arriving in Sacramento, but come on! Second song in, the drummer (Curtis) played waaaaay too fast, and instead of slowing down a bit, they lost all fluidity when the lead singer (Cummins) started yelling and decided to start over. This is 1/4 of the way into the song, and just lowered the confidence level I thought these Austinites possessed. The whole set they were unsure of what songs to play, which again, ruins the flow.

2. Cummins at one point mocked the crowd's rather quiet style of dancing (you know, the type where most just bob their head or tap their feet), saying that at other places, people dance. Hey, man, I was dancing! And so were other friends of mine who were willing to put up with your bitching.

3. While I enjoy the fact that there is at least someplace for people to go see a show in Sacramento that doesn't cost a whole paycheck to go to see artists perform, it saddens me that we as members have to keep it a secret, because of whatever issues the police or the city has with a music venue for all ages.

I'd say that overall, the Harlem performance was only meh*. I didn't stay for Mayyors, and I missed the English Singles, so maybe my opinion would be altered if I was able to supplement my experience with Harlem.
Note to self: listen to new Harlem album (Hippies) online.

* My Personal Rating System:

WOOHOO!= I can't believe how great that is/was...I'd pay anything to see that/them

Yay! = This should be fun...Interested, in a good way.

Meh. = This is/was cool...I don't regret paying for it, but I'm ready to go home now.

Um? = Don't really get it, but I can't think of anything better to do at this point.

EW! = Let's blow this popsicle stand...I want my money back.

Harrowing Winds

woke me today, rattling the window by my head.

Dream recap: The first was a hectic and realistic dream where I was attempting to drive a over-sized big rig filled with vinyl records and cds, which were falling out the top of the trailer as I drove. The second involved me driving Andy's sky blue Thunderbird down the streets of Sacramento, stuffing random appliances in the back seat.

Andy won't allow me to drive his precious Batman II, so I am going to just be happy I can drive "him" in my dreams. Vroom Vroom!

Brain, Part II

I walked the stormy block to the Central Library during my lunch break and borrowed some crucial material for building my brain:


and

Along with a documentary on North Korea's Mass Games called "A State of Mind"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVBcYEV6Wgs
OK Brain, let's do this!